Eighth year of Chongzhen

Chapter 250
That night, Hong Chengchou and Shen Shiyu lived in the backyard of the Taoist office.Li Zhiyuan sent someone to order a table from the best restaurant in the city and wait for the table to be delivered to the yamen, along with four young and beautiful maids, and Wu Sangui, in the name of visiting He Feng, Li Lu and other old relatives He did not come to accompany Hong Chengchou for dinner.

Around You hour, the sky has gradually darkened.After bathing and changing clothes under the service of the two maids, Hong Chengchou in a blue Taoist robe paced forward, the two maids followed behind him one from the left and the other from the right, and a servant of Li Zhiyuan led the way in front with a lantern.

After turning left and right, we came to a courtyard. Li Zhiyuan and Shen Shiyu, dressed in dark casual clothes, stood under the lantern at the entrance of the courtyard and greeted each other with smiles: "Master, please come inside!"

Hong Chengchou stepped into the courtyard first.

A luxuriant locust tree is planted in the middle of the spacious courtyard, and the wooden shelves in the southeast corner of the courtyard are covered with grape vines.There is a stone table and several stone benches under the grape arbor, and a teapot and several teacups are placed on the stone table, which seems to be used by the owner for enjoying the cool and relaxing.Several pots of colorful and unnamed flowers are scattered at the roots and feet of the grapes, welcoming the coming of summer with gorgeous but short-lived beauty.

"Ning Siduan's leisure and elegance! Is it possible that Ning Yuan is so supportive here? I think Ning Si seems to have the intention of not thinking about Shu! Ha ha ha ha!"

Hong Chengchou jokingly called Li Zhiyuan's words.

"Duke Hong's words are embarrassing to the officials! How can you say that you don't think about Shu for joy? At best, it's just having fun in the midst of hardships! Please, Mr. Hong and Brother Shen!"

Li Zhiyuan replied with a wry smile while holding his hand solemnly.

There is a square table and three chairs in the spacious and bright flower hall. The windows in the hall are all wide open, and the cool breeze in early summer makes people feel extremely comfortable.

After the three of them were seated, two of the four maids stood behind Hong Chengchou, who was in charge, and the other two stood behind Li Zhiyuan and Shen Shiyu respectively, ready to serve them at any time; There was a slight collision sound of Jia Ye, and dozens of Hong Chengchou's personal soldiers were patrolled back and forth by Jia soldiers.

"Duke Hong wiped out the bandits and bandits, and saved our Emperor Ming from a dangerous situation. His achievements surpass the world. He is really a jade pillar of my Ming Dynasty! Forgive me, if it weren't for Hong Gong's ten years of hard work, the bandits would have been in great trouble." This official! Although I have never met Hong Gong before, but Hong Gong’s name is like a thunder, and today I can see you, it is really a blessing for the three lives of the lower official! I only use the wine in the cup to show my respect for Hong Gong!"

Li Zhiyuan, who accompanied him horizontally, raised his glass with both hands, and his words were full of respect for Hong Chengchou, a famous minister, and he drank the wine in his glass after he finished speaking.

Li Zhiyuan took the second-class pilot test in the early years of Chongzhen, and then stayed in the Ministry of Household Affairs for a year to observe government affairs. He successively served as chief officials of prefectures and counties in Nanzhili and Huguang provinces.In the seventh year of Chongzhen, he was sent to Ningyuan to serve as a guardian of the Tao because he hated Wang Yongguang, the official minister at that time.Although the level has been raised from the fourth rank, the officials all regard this place as a dangerous way, knowing that once they are outside the customs, unless they get on the line of the elders, they will only be idled even if they return to the customs.

Li Zhiyuan, who was over [-] years old, was unwilling to end his official career. After coming to Ningyuan, he also wanted to make some achievements in order to win the attention of the big bosses in the capital.But in Liaoxi, who has a knife in his hand, he has the final say. He is an outcast civil servant who has no power to restrain a chicken. He only brought a few servants to the outside of the pass. Facing a group of rough men who are not even afraid of the emperor, he has no power The power of confrontation.

After several attempts, Li Zhiyuan had no choice but to recognize the reality when he found that even the officials in the government office were violating his government orders, and turned to make clay-body wood sculptures that don't care about their own business.Seeing that he is knowledgeable and interesting, the guards of Ningyuan will not make it difficult for him anymore, and they can also share some benefits with him from time to time. Li Zhiyuan will not refuse anyone who comes, not because he does not want to refuse, but because he dare not refuse, otherwise he will be in Ningyuan. It will be difficult to move an inch.

"Ning Si's words are too high! Although I have achieved a little success in suppressing the bandits, it is only because of the trust of the sage, the support of the courtiers, the dedication of the soldiers, and the help of such outstanding people as Kun Gang. I am lucky to have it. Today's situation is not due to me alone!"

Hong Chengchou raised his glass with a smile and took a sip, his affection for Li Zhiyuan increased a bit.Shen Shiyu's cup was dry at the side, and several maids quickly poured wine and served dishes for them.

Although Li Zhiyuan's words seemed to be flattering, they just tickled Hong Chengchou's itch.

With the ten-year incomprehensible situation of the Ming Dynasty, it ended perfectly with the successive destruction of nearly a million thieves. Looking back on all the hardships during the period, Hong Chengchou sighed in his heart, and was often secretly proud of the decisive role he had achieved in it. .

Although Lu Xiangsheng and Sun Chuanting also played a very important role in suppressing the thieves, how could Sun and Lu's subsequent big victory be possible without their own support when the thieves gradually became popular?I, Hong Hengjiu, was the one who planted the trees, and the rest were just enjoying the shade under the trees.

"Brother Ning Si just said brilliantly! The thieves have wreaked havoc on the northern border of the Ming Dynasty for ten years. If there is no independent support from Mr. Hong, the current situation of the Ming Dynasty may still be riddled with holes, and the consequences will be unimaginable! This is the consensus of the ruling and opposition parties. Hong Gongxiong is talented, has a fearless heart, with great courage and perseverance, uses the weak to attack the strong, and finally wipes out the bandits, clarifies the imperial universe, and restores the Ming Dynasty to brighten the universe. This is really the three immortals of the sages! Those who are about to enter the prime minister are nothing more than that! The jade pillar of the Ming Dynasty, this title is well-deserved by Hong Gong! Today, it is a big white for Hong Gong!"

After Shen Shiyu spoke with emotion, he raised his glass and drank it all in one gulp. Li Zhiyuan hurriedly raised his glass to follow.

"Kun Gang said it! Hehehe! How can I be compared with the ancient sages! If there is no Kungang's careful assistance in the past few years, taking care of the daily military affairs for me, under a hundred secrets, I am afraid that there will be no bandits An omission! If I can achieve some achievements outside the pass this time, I will recommend such a great talent as Kun Gang to my emperor, so that Daming will have leftover talents!"

Shen Shiyu was from Lantian, Shaanxi, from a wealthy family. Some of his ancestors had served as magistrate of Fuzhou and Tuiguan of Xingyang.Shen Shiyu was elected in the third year of Chongzhen, and then saw that the situation in the north of the Ming Dynasty seemed to be corrupt, so after discussing with his father, he resolutely voted to join the army and recommended himself to Hong Chengchou's account.For several years, he helped Hong Chengchou handle daily military affairs and official documents with the emperor, the court, and localities, which won Hong Chengchou's appreciation and love.

During this period, Hong Chengchou tried to recommend him to the imperial court several times, but Shen Shiyu declined all of them on the grounds that the thief was not settled and it was difficult to feel at ease in the position.Hong Chengchou made up his mind apart from his regrets, and after the internal and external stability of the Ming Dynasty, he must do his best to recommend this talented man who is indifferent to fame and wealth to the emperor and the court, so that he can have a platform to display his talents.

After drinking for three rounds, Hong Chengchou put down his chopsticks and coughed. Shen Shiyu hurriedly looked at Li Zhiyuan.

"Ning Si, you have been an official here for several years, so you should know the world outside the pass; this time I was ordered to supervise Ji Liao, and I want to organize the army and raise the people outside the pass. Unfortunately, I know very little about the customs of western Liaoning. Ning Why do you teach me? If you have a good plan, just tell me!"

Hong Chengchou looked at Li Zhiyuan with piercing eyes and said.

(End of this chapter)